When we talk about sleep hygiene, a set of habits and environmental factors that promote consistent, uninterrupted sleep. Also known as sleep routines, it's not about sleeping more—it's about sleeping better without relying on pills. Most people think if they’re tired enough, sleep will come. But if your bedroom is lit up by screens, you’re drinking coffee after 2 p.m., or you’re taking melatonin with a sedative, your body never learns how to wind down on its own.
Melatonin, a hormone your body naturally produces to signal bedtime. Also known as the sleep hormone, it’s often used as a supplement—but it doesn’t fix broken habits. Mixing it with sedatives like benzodiazepines or even alcohol can slow your breathing, leave you groggy all day, and increase fall risk, especially in older adults. Meanwhile, insomnia, the inability to fall or stay asleep despite having time and opportunity. Also known as chronic sleeplessness, isn’t always caused by stress. Sometimes it’s triggered by medications like aripiprazole or prednisolone, which can flip your sleep-wake cycle without you realizing it. Your sleep isn’t failing because you’re lazy—it’s failing because your daily routine is working against you.
Good sleep hygiene means fixing the small things: no phones in bed, keeping your room cool and dark, going to sleep and waking up at the same time—even on weekends. It means avoiding heavy meals or intense workouts right before bed. It means understanding that a pill isn’t a shortcut. If you’re taking anticoagulants, blood pressure meds, or antidepressants, some of them might be quietly stealing your rest. The posts below show real cases: how melatonin and sedatives interact dangerously, how aripiprazole can cause insomnia even as it’s meant to help, and why prescription label warnings matter more at night than you think. You’ll find what actually works, what doesn’t, and how to stop guessing and start sleeping.
